Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-14
A GREAT REVOLUTION.
SEVERAL CAUSES COMBINING TO STAND
BUSINESS on ITS HEAD
One OF Which Causes Is the Interstate Commerce
Bill-Serous Losses In Some Localities and
Wonderful Gains In 0thsrS-The
General State Of Trade.

NEW YORK, May 13.-R. G. Dun q
Co s weekly trade review says: "a great
revolution in business is going on. With
radically conflicting accounts OF serious
losses at some localities and in some
branches, and of wonderful gains at other
places or in other departments OF trade and
industry, the difficulty of reaching just
conclusions respecting the general ten
dency is much enhanced. The Interstate
act is hut one of several causes, which con-
tribute to produce this revolution in COM
merce, expansion in the volume, and
change in the kind of currency, is another
not less important Most unexpected re-
suits are produced; the Interstate act
clearly helps some who bitterly opposed 1t
and rs clearly injuries Others who expected
great benefits from its operation. Thus
the river business Of the west is eX-
banding under the influence Of the law,
and the railroads are at the same time get
ting larger earnings from the part of the
traffic they retain, while not few cities,
as Cincinnati, show that trade i'll many
lines is greatly embarrassed One general
tendency is disclosed by the urgent de-
mands for suspension, or change of the law,
especially from those who most favored its
enactment. Serious
DIVERSION OF TRADE FROM WESTERN
CITIES,
which have been the chief centers of dis
tributiOn is in progress, and multitude
of small towns are reaping the benefit.
Western products do not, rs Il rule, gain
ANYTHING in eastern markets. Ii wheat
has advanced % cents since the act went
into effect, corn and oats have declined a
fraction, pork is also the same in price,
lard half cent lower, hogs three -eighths
of Il cent lower, and beef same price. Cot
ton has advanced One-tOurth of 4 cent, but
this change like the rise in wheat, is clear
ly speculative, and, therefore threatens re
action through curtailment of demand
RAILROAD BUILDING Is NOT CHECKED
by the act, rs yet, and there is a prObabil-
ity that encouraging traffic at many in
stead of new centeTs OF trade, the law may
tend to the building Of numerous local
roads and parallel or rival lines. The out
put of pig iron again increases reaching
about l39, 300 tons weekly, May lst. But
this is probably high water mark for the
time, many furnaces in PittSburg region
having since been banked" be
cause of the coke strike, while
other eastern furnaces dlScOn-
tinue production on accOut OF rail rates
Enormous imports also tend to depression
The lockout of stove molders has increased
in Importance, and suspicious are growing
that the manufacturers desire, through a
general suspension OF work, to reach a
higher range OF prices for products.
Exports of wheat in April were Il, 52i 06l
bushels, against 5,352, ,975 last year, with
90, 300 barrels Of flour against 703 12S
last year. Exports Of brcadStuiiS reach
cd Sl2, ,534, 100 in value against Sll,-
9j9, 9i~ last year, showing that the
comparatively quiet market in that month
favored large shipment. But prices have
since advanced rapidly, with sales OF nearly
S,0OO,GO in Il week, and exports as
checked, while accounts of seeding show Il
great increase in acreage in Dakota and
Minnesota.
The business failures during the last
seven DAYS number for the United States
l35, for Canada -; total lG7, against ls!
last week, and l76 corresponding week last
year. Failures are decreasing in all parts
of the country except perhaps, in Canada
and the provinces.